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| YOUNG GIRLS GOING TO THE PROCESSION - A
notable ceremony of the Catholic Church, honored in a Latin
countries, is a procession of the clergy and people in formal march,
visiting some church in state, either to give thanks or implore
special dispensation. There are also processions of the host or
sacrament, of our Saviour to Mount Calvary, of the Rosary, and other
forms. These ceremonies have taken a strong hold on the faith and
senses of the people, and have served potently to hold society
together and assuage bloodshed. Contrasted with these peaceful walks
across the odorous fields by happy damsels, the alarms and crimes of
war become intolerable, and gradually lessen. It is said that St.
Chrysoston, the unrivaled orator of Constantinople, was the first to
introduce processions from Pagan customs into the Christian Church.
The followers of Arius, being forced to hold their meetings out of
the city, went forth together, singing anthems; and Chrysostom
(Golden-Mouth) in order to overcome this, organized the orthodox
clergy and people into counter-processions, carrying crosses and
flambeaux by night. The painter of this beautiful picture, which was
exhibited in the French section of the Art
Palace, at Chicago, Jules Adolphe Aime Louis Breton, is one of
two celebrated brothers, born at Courrieres, France. Jules is
renowned for work of which this is a type, sometimes entering with a
sterner skill into the pathetic aspects of life among the lowly. The
brother, Emile, excels with snow scenes and moonlight. |
